WATERBURY - The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Compliance and Enforcement Division today announced that it has formally settled environmental violations involving Precision Valley Finishing, Inc. The company owns and operates the Precision Valley Finishing facility located in Springfield, VT. The settlement includes a $20,000 penalty.

Through the Agency’s investigation, it was discovered that Precision Valley Finishing violated multiple hazardous waste management regulations that included the failure to maintain an up to date Vermont Hazardous Waste Handler Site ID form, disposal of hazardous waste by evaporation, failure to make hazardous waste determination, storage of hazardous waste for more than 90 days, no documentation that contingency plan provided to local emergency providers, complete training records not being maintained, improper management of satellite accumulation containers, failure to properly label short term storage area container, and improper management of universal waste lamps. A review of the facility’s records also revealed several violations of the facility’s Air Pollution Control Permit. These included the failure to update its Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan, failure to maintain specific process operation records, and failure to maintain specific process inspection and maintenance records.

The matter came to light as a result of routine agency inspections in September and October 2009. After the inspections were completed, the company was notified of the violations and agreed to settle the matter. In response to Agency directives, it properly characterized and disposed of the materials identified during the inspections, sent the facility’s contingency plan to emergency service providers, and has properly labeled and stored fluorescent lamps.

The settlement was reduced to an Assurance of Discontinuance and was so ordered by the Environmental Court. In it, Precision Valley Finishing, Inc. agreed to submit employee training information, an updated Site ID from, and O&M Plan; conduct training and maintain records of training, job titles, and job descriptions in accordance with the state standards and its permit; comply with applicable law and permits. It was also agreed that Precision Valley Finishing, Inc. will pay a $20,000 civil penalty to the State of Vermont for the violations.

Involved Programs: Waste Management and Air Pollution Control Divisions of the Department of Environmental ConservationFor Further Information please contact:Attorney John Zaikowskiat802-241-3820or email tojohn.zaikowski@state.vt.us